Old Poems [tae lee]

Upgrading

Leaving little robots 

of myself

with everyone I used to know

I wake up at night 

as the old models become

increasingly obsolete

Maybe if someone thought

that Steve Job’s latest invention

was the iPod 

and that it was really amazing

Steve would get really flustered

and say something like,

“Hey don’t you know I invented the iPad?”

In this way, 

I want to call the people from my past

and shout into the phone,

“I’m way better that I used to be!

“Forget that outdated me and take a look at me now!”

Living in a Material World

It takes all you got 


to figure people out.


On a good day I try


to think it’s worth the bother

Sometimes I walk around town


and everyone seems to be trying


to get what they want 


out of this whole situation, I mean

Then I walk around some more


and try to figure out 


what it is that I want


and if that’s OK

Sometimes, I want to stop


wanting things out of life


but then I realize


that even then I’m wanting still

Have You Seen my Hands?

I looked desperately


around my room


I couldn’t believe


I was going to be late for work


because of my stupid hands

when did I have them last?


did I leave them at the corner store?


then how would I have ever


gotten in through my door


late last night?

I didn’t have time


to make flyers that said,


“Have you seen my hands?”


and post them around town.

Moreover, I wouldn’t even know

 
where to begin making the flyers


on my computer


without my left and right hand

I tried to slap myself


on the forehead


like an old frustrated cartoon


but only whiffed through the air 


my forearm hitting my nose

Going Out

Sometimes when I’m out

I see a dude and think

“He’s kind of tacky”

Then I imagine

That person in front of a mirror

Checking things out

Hoping that he is good enough

For kindness and affection

And

My heart softens